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Robson Valley, Nechako face challenges |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008 |
The Prince George, Robson Valley and Nechako River areas face social, economic and environmental challenges, but also are becoming more sustainable in a number of ways, says a report by the Fraser Basin Council.
One of the stories of the past 10 years is that, despite a downturn in the forestry sector and a six-per-cent decrease in population, there are positive economic indicators in the upper Fraser River, says the report.
Average income varies by sub-region but overall is comparable to the rest of the province. There is a smaller proportion of low-income households in the upper Fraser than in B.C. and the Fraser Basin overall.
"It is natural for people to be worried by the current crisis, but it is important not to become overwhelmed," said Charles Jago, chair of the Fraser Basin Council and a resident of Prince George.
"The changes that take place over the years are important, and so is a focus on the big picture ahead," said Jago. "For today's leaders, the big picture is sustainability -- how can we live and manage our communities in a way that balances social, economic and environmental considerations over time? It's critical that we find a way if we want to meet the needs of future generations as well as our own."
Another finding of the report was that life expectancy has increased two per cent in the past decade, although not as significantly as in the rest of B.C. There remain various health risks of particular concern, including cancer, which is a leading cause of death.
The Fraser Basin Council, created 1997, has backing from all levels of government and is trying to ensure that decisions made today will protect and advance the basin's social, economic and environmental sustainability. The basin covers the vast Fraser River watershed, including the Nechako River..
Other report findings:
- Unlike the upper Fraser population as a whole, the number of aboriginal people has increased. The health of aboriginal people, however, still lags behind that of non-aboriginals in several respects. A challenge ahead is to continue to forge stronger relationships between aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities. To date, there are no ratified treaties, but there are agreements, including natural resource agreements that demonstrate progress.
- Forestry, including manufacturing of forest products, remains a significant economic engine of the upper Fraser, but one that is vulnerable to fluctuating market demand. Forest health, moreover, has been seriously damaged by mountain pine beetle infestation. Beetle kill has offered short-term harvesting opportunities in the region, but the recovery of forests will take time. Long-term employment in forestry is uncertain.
- One thing seems clear: resilience is important for upper Fraser communities, and economic diversification is a component. The economy of the region includes agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and retail services as well as natural resource sectors. Prince George is a vital transportation hub, and has a significant inland port for shipping rail freight and an expanded airport.
- An important environmental health concern is air quality in the Prince George area, especially fine particulate matter. Energy consumption and solid waste disposal in landfills are other concerns, both having increased in recent years. There is good news: the region has the best water quality in the Fraser Basin, particularly in the Robson Valley. There are, however, habitat and ecosystem concerns, and species that are facing difficulty. These include woodland caribou, early and late Stuart sockeye, Endako chinook and Nechako white sturgeon.
For more information on the report visit www.fraserbasin.bc.ca.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 November 2008 )
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